HP Readies Open-Source WebOS Release

Hewlett-Packard announced plans to release the code behind webOS this September under the Apache License 2.0.

The license allows developers to mix open-source code with their own inventions and sell products using the code.

The webOS operating system was developed by Palm for phones and tablets. HP acquired Palm in 2010 and late last year announced it will no longer manufacture devices that use the software. Instead, HP said, it will release webOS to the open-source community.

HP laid out a timeline for releasing components of the software, starting with Enyo 2.0 and its source code. With Enyo, developers can create applications that work across different types of webOS-based devices. Enyo 2.0, released in late January as open-source software, adds support for other mobile operating systems. Now, developers can more easily write applications that work across webOS , iOS and Android devices.

The full open webOS beta will be published in August, with Version 1.0 coming out in September.

In comparison, Symbian took a year and eight months to release its code, before it withered away battling new operating systems from Apple and Google.

This version of this story was originally published in Computerworld's print edition. It was adapted from an article that appeared earlier on Computerworld.com.